04/25/2026
When I see a Post like this it reminds me of the people I met and the things I learned at Gold Gym in the 80's and 90's. Mike and Ray both spoke highly of Arther Jones and what he taught them. They would pass that knowledge on to many bodybuilders at Golds me included. I gathered all the information I could and would try anything and everything at least once. I trained with Ray Mentzer and diid Mike's HIT or back then Heavy Duty workouts. While training with Ray it was 3 days per week. Resting the muscle as well as the nervous system. If Ray saw me in the Gym on an off day it was an argument. I got my best results training 6 and often 7 days a week. Robby Robinson and I trained twice per day 7 days a week. Two very different philosophies to say the least. Ray was Strong Real Strong and Mean when he trained. Heavy weights, Pushing every set to failure, while resting to recover between sets. Robby was Perfect every rep to perfection pumping the muscle with high reps. Faster pace one up one down as he finished a set I was awaiting to go like a batter on deck. The more you read on the internet, the more confused you will get. What works for Ray may not work for Robby and vise versa. The key is to figure out What works for YOU? To do this you need to track your Progress. Ray was a stickler about keeping a log book. Robby and I remembered everything we did and did more volume sets or weight the following workout. I probably forgot more then most people will ever learn about Bodybuilding and maybe its my time to share it with you before it gets lost forever. Learning from someone better than you is Good, Learning from The Very Best in the World is Priceless.
Mike Mentzer (Rt), first started weight training at the age of 12. By 15 he had a bench press of 370 pounds. He weighed 165 pounds. In 1971 at 19 years of age, he entered his 1st bodybuilding contest, Mr. Lancaster, PA. He won. That year he entered the AAU Mr. America. In a field of 33 men, the 19 year old finished 10th! The only thing more amazing was that another 19 year old, Casey Viator, WON!! The 2 struck up a friendship which lead to Mike meeting Casey's trainer, Nautilus inventor and High Intensity Training "guru"...Arthur Jones. It was Jones' technique that lead Mike to his own system of HIT, Heavy Duty. Mike went on to win the 1976 IFBB Mr. America, 1977 IFBB North American Championship and the 1978 IFBB Mr. Universe (the 1st and only man to have done so with a perfect score!!!) In 1979, his brother Ray (Lft) and he entered the most intensive training regimen of their lives! Ray, 2 years younger, had followed in Mike's footsteps and was himself very successful in the sport. He won the 1976 Jr. Mr. America, and the 1978 IFBB Mr. USA. In 1979, Ray was training for the AAU Mr. America. Mike was training for his Olympia debut.
Ray won Mr. America. Mike won the Heavyweight Class of the Olympia (again with a perfect score) but lost the overall Mr. Olympia title to Lightweight Class winner Frank Zane, who won his 3rd and final Sandow that night. An excellent win for Ray, and an awesome Olympia debut for Mike!
1980 wouldn't be as awesome.
